Constbxtction of grand piastos



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANL. F. HAASZ, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONSTRUCTION OF GRAND PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,383, dated March 4, 1856.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL F. HAAsZ, of the city of Philadelphia and v'State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Grand Pianos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in so combining the action of grand pianos with the movable, or key frame, that the whole may, when required, be made to radiate downward on pins attached to the front of the key frame, and itting into slots on the sides of the pia-no case, from which slots the pins may be raised and detached at pleasure; an arrangement which enables me to remove the whole key frame and action from the body of the piano with facility, and at the same time gives me the o-pportunity of using a deep and solid pin block, which not only dispenses with the multiplicity of iron bars so injurious to the tone of grand pianos, but also prevents the rattling noise, which occurs in the operation of the keys in that class of instruments through want ot solidity in the pin block.

In connection with the above and with a modified arrangement of a well known action, I use a novel system of levers and catchers, hereafter fully explained, for arresting the motion of the hammers.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The annexed drawing, which forms a part of this specification, represents in section sutlicient of a grand piano to show my improvements.

A is a portion of the side of a case of a grand piano.

B is the pin block extending across the piano and connecting the opposite sides of the case together. C is the damper frame, also extending across the piano in the same direct-ion as the pin block B.

vD is a portion of a cross bar, technically termed the dam, the ends of which, as in the instance of the damper frame, and pin block, are attached to the opposite sides A of the case.

The parts above described form the permanent or stationary parts of the instrument.

E is one side of the key frame the shape ot which is designated by the difference in color from that of the case A, these sides ot the key frame tit snugly into a similarly shaped recess on the inside of the case. The opposite sides of the key trame are connected together by the hammer beam F, the hammer strip G and by the cross pieces H, I, and J.

The above with the action forms the movable part of the instrument. This movable part is attached to the stationary case in the following manner. In front of the instrument each side piece E is furnished with a pin a which rests in a recess in a projection from the side of the case in such a manner as to be easily raised and detached thereform. These pins are the center points, on which the movable frame vibrates, the back end is supported by a notched spring o secured to the dam D.

K is one of the keys of the instrument resting on the cross bar I, and having its center of vibration on the pin o. To the end of the key K is attached a piece (Z having a projection o to which is jointed the check f having two projections g, and L, the top of g being furnished with felt for striking against the end ot the regulating screw i in the hammer bar F, on the top of the other projection rests the point of the spring j.

L is a padded lever jointed to an attachment M on the hammer strip G; this lever is connected by means of a hooked wire to al felt projection 7c, from the check f. A spring j presses with its point against the underside of the lever L. O is a lever jointed to another attachment N on the hammer strip G, the movements of this lever are confined by the bent wire P. To the lever O is attached the catcher m for retarding the movements of the hammer Q. the latter being jointed to an attachment n on the hammer bar F. A padded projection p :trom the key serves to operate the lever C. Each lever is furnished with a screw g, the head of which bears against the underside of the padded lever R which is jointed to an attachment fr on the pin block B.

S is the damper lever resting on the point of the lever R, and supporting the end of the damper lever T the latter being jointed to These are the defects which I propose to an attachment V on the damper bar C, which is passed down by the point of the spring u, and is furnished underneath with a piece of felt :r for deadening the sound of the strings V.

On depressing the front end of the key K the point of the check f strikes a projection on the lever L, and causes the hammer Q, to4

rise suddenly and strike the strings V. rIhis portion of the action as well as that relating to the damper Jform no part of my invention, and are too well understood to need further description. The disposal of the parts however which comprise the action involves the necessity of having a novel arrangement of levers and catchers in connection with the keys, for arresting the movements, and preventing the recoil of the hammers Q. It will be perceived that this object is attained by the lever O which the moment the front end of the key is depressed is raised by the padded projection p causing` the padded end of the catcher m to arrest the movements of the hammer Q at the right time and place.

I would here remark that in all grand pianos hitherto constructed it is usual to make the frame to which the action is attached, in such a manner as to be slid out in front of the instrument in a direct line, this plan on account of the higher parts of the action having to pass under the pin block involves the necessity of having the latter very shallow and weak, so much so that it is necessary to strengthen the block by a number of iron bars which detractseriously from the proper tone of the instrument, the want of solidity too, in the pin block of ordinarygrand pianos causes the operation of the keys to emit a rattling disagreeable sound.

remedy by my arrangement.

As the movable frame. with its action is shown in the drawing it is situated in its proper position, as regards the case of the instrument, should it be necessary however to remove the whole frame and action for repairs or other purposes, I move back the notched spring when the whole key frame and its action is at liberty to radiate downward as shown in red lilies, the pin a being the center ot' radiation; when lowered sufliciently for the action to clear the pin block B I raise the front of the key frame, so as to lift the pin a on the latter from its slot in the case, when the whole key frame and its action are at once detached. It will now be seen that by the above arrangement I have every opportunity of using a deep and consequently strong pin block, thereby dispensing with the necessity of using the objection able iron bars, above alluded to, and by the solidity of the block preventing the rattling noise emitted by the operation of keys in ordinary grand pianos.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent sl. The combining the action of grand pianos with a radiating key frame in such a manner as to enable me to use a deep and strong pin block substantially as herein set forth.

2. The key K with its projection p and arrester I in combination with the lever O and catches m arranged and constructed, substantially in the manner and for the purpose speciied.

D. F. IIAASZ, lVitnesses HENRY HowsoN, WILLIAM E. VVALTON. 

